It's gotten so bad, the LA Times' Helene Elliott has to write puff piece valentines on players from division rivals to the Dodgers. Sigh.
If there's no room for someone like the San Diego Padres' second baseman, the ultimate little guy with a big heart and a winning influence on every team whose dirt-stained uniform he has worn, the sport will lose a piece of its soul.
"The style of game I play is definitely well against all the new-age baseball guys. A place in this game is not going to be very long for me, the way I play, because it's not what everyone that's getting power would want to see," he said.
"They want to see the numbers. They want to see stuff that translates on paper. I don't translate to paper."If David Eckstein is right, if players like him are an endangered species because computer-generated calculations can't quantify the value of hustling and the little things he does so well, baseball will be the poorer for it.
Go ahead, SoSG fans. Tell us other things that don't translate to paper, please.
original Eckstein photo from Scott Rovak / EPA
28 comments:
Actually, MSB translates on paper just fine. An Eckstein is a cornerstone, auf Deutsch (he said, noting the irony with satisfaction.)
Oh puh-leaze. We're not in the steroid era anymore. Home runs are down (at least by cursory glance). Without knowing how good his defense is, he has a career OPS+ of 87 (and a solid career .346 OBP). Below average, but good enough to be a major leaguer.
His defense is fair, but his range is terrible.
Ah. Still. I think MSB has MSB-syndrome.
Was it MSB what was actually on third base for the infamous Eric Gregg-cheeseburger incident of 1988?
Paper? Who still uses paper to track stats? Get with the times, Grandpa Eck!
when i put a penny under a piece of paper and try to lightly draw on it with a pencil it doesnt translate well.
Juan Pierre doesn't look good on paper. He doesn't look too good in a baseball game either.
@ Mr. Customer 10:20a: In German, "papier" translates to paper.
Guys, I read a wonderful column about the futility of stats on Sunday, if you're interested, I'll translate it
@sax
This is true, though somewhat less ironic.
Does it translate to paper, Karina?
Kenji Nimura translates to people
@FB
I did not know that.
Wait, yes I did, but he doesn't really translate on paper.
I'm sure Nimura could translate on paper if he wanted. It's just too tedious.
Decent comeback by Arsenal against Spurs so far.
4-1 for the good guys.
That was quick! It was knotted at 1 when I left the pub.
Good news for Mr. C:
Everton out of the Carling Cup on PK's.
Mr. C:
2 penalties within minutes, then Arshavin slots home a winner.
The perennial lament of the 35 year-old journeyman is that baseball just won't be the same without guys like me (so sign me!!!!)
Filthy toffees! Good riddance.
@Josh S if it doesn't translate to paper is because I suck
;)
Fantasy football question:
Is Michael Vick worth picking up on waivers when I have Aaron Rodgers and #6/10 waiver priority?
@Mr. F
I'd say no, but I guess it would really depend on who you would be cutting. Rogers has got to be your go-to guy.
Yeah same. I'd probably drop Mark Sanchez, my current back-up QB. But it's not a huge hole..
I'd keep the mediocre guy without QB controversy for sure.
Thanks, Mr. C.
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